December 2001 - Avista Utilities, an investor-owned utility serving 310,000 electricity customers in Washington and Idaho, has filed plans with regulatory commissions in both states to offer a wind power option to their customers beginning in early 2002. Under the proposed program, residential and business customers will be able to buy 55-kWh blocks of wind energy for an extra $1 each month (1.8¢/kWh) or designate a fixed share of their monthly electricity use to be supplied with wind power. Avista is negotiating with PacifiCorp Power Marketing to purchase electricity from the Stateline wind project located along the Washington-Oregon border to supply the program.

Under a law enacted earlier this year, all Washington-based utilities are required to offer a green power option to their customers beginning in 2002.